Flaming punch, adapted by Drink's Josey Packard from a recipe in Esquire's 1949 Handbook for Hosts.

But first, a note:

Hey, the fire part of this is no joke, don't screw around. This isn't one to try at home on a whim. Three fire safety experts standing by during the Rachel Maddow Show may have seemed like overkill but that doesn't mean a giant bowl of flaming liquid is anything to be taken lightly.

So here is the recipe you saw on the show, for your interest, if not necessarily for your practice.

Prep:

Acquire a pyrex bowl or other heat-treated (or otherwise fire resistant bowl).Stud 3 oranges with cloves.Roast them for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees, until softened.

Warm the alcohol for the punch (immerse a container of it in hot water).Set the spices aside, for the pyrotechnics.Also warm the diluting ingredients.Have some sugar on-hand.

Spices for pyrotechnics:

Ground cinnamonGround allspiceGround nutmeg

Alcohol:

1 pint dark rum1 pint brandy

Diluting ingredients:

Juice of 3 orangesJuice of 2 lemonsPint of apple cider Pint of water

On-hand, for continued extinguishing:

Pint of apple ciderPint of water

Procedure:

Pre-heat punch bowl with hot water from the tap.Put roasted oranges in hot, newly emptied bowl.Pour heated alcohol mixture over oranges.Use a match to ignite alcohol. (Hey! Again, remember this guy? This step in the recipe is not for the casual amateur at home.)Be aware at all times of how hot the bowl is by touching the outside of it frequently.Toss pinches of the spices at the flame carefully.

Extinguish the flame by pouring the heated juice/cider mix over the punch.

If the punch doesn't completely extinguish, pour more cider or water over the mixture.